The Countdown!

MARCH 4, 2013

     NO SCHOOL!  I can't even tell you what holiday it is I just know that they have no school which is crazy because they have a half day on Wednesday.  Their Dad is letting up a little on the grounding and the boys are allowed to go downstairs and continue to play with their Lego's.  So they brought out their big book of Lego instructions.  Hopefully it keeps them busy and not fighting for a while.  Ashley on the other hand is perfectly find in her room with her Ipod and her TV.  

     Tonight we had a very special quest which was part of a group which raised money for Make-A-Wish and made Ashley's wish possible came over to meet with Ashley.  We thank every one that was part of the 2013 Penguin Plunge out of Ottawa IL!

BACK TO LEGOS

WATCHING BARNEY

ALL DRESSED UP FOR HER SPECIAL GUEST

ALL THREE 

MARCH 5, 2013

     Tyler lucked out.  Snow Day for and no school today.  The first and probably the only snow day of the year and it happened to fall on his birthday and made the long weekend even longer.  And bonus delayed ISAT testing.  And when they go to school tomorrow they have a half day!

     Tyler did not get a lot for his birthday.  His wants where extremely expensive this year and nothing that he needed!  But he still received some things that he wanted and some surprises but I think he was ok with everything.  We did brave the snow storm (if you call it that) and went out and bought Wreck It Ralph, which was on his list.  Happy Birthday Tyler.  Hopefully the 10 year old comes out in you.

SNOW DAY AND A 10TH BIRTHDAY!

TYLER CAN'T WAIT TO OPEN THEM

TYLER IS NOW 10

ENJOYING HIS BIRTHDAY TACO DINNER

MARCH 6, 2013

     First full school day this week and they and I need it.  

1 2 3 SMILE

MARCH 7, 2013

     My kids need more sleep.  They have a bed time but something is just not working out for them.  But it is lately mostly Ashley.  She has a little attitude that is mostly grunts and moans and I have to keep telling her to use her words which is just responded with a grunt or a moan.  Hopefully this is her late 6 attitude kicking in and her 7 attitude will replace that one!

     This is taken directly from my facebook status

"My day just got busier....

Stepped out of the gym with a phone call from the school nurse to come and get Kyle. Kyle may have a concussion. So I need to take him to the Doctor. Well can't until Ashley gets home a little after 2:30 and then have to wait until Tyler gets home at 3:45 and then we will be on our way to the ER. We stopped at our family Doctor and she said he may need a CT scan. So we will be spending our night at the ER. Fun Thursday for the Shipe Household. The Life of a Single Parent because the military thinks that my husband needs to be in CA manning a desk and a phone."

     Just how I was feeling and just how the day was going.  Being a military wife is not easy.  Especially when you have no local support and no military support and all you are being told is that people are tying to get your husband home but I have been told that and promised that over and over again and no body in the military follows thru.  Been with out my husband for two and a half years and it looks like it will be another two and a half years before the military finds a way for my husband can be home.  And that is with my husband retiring after 20 years! So having two expectational family members in one family and one the primary and only care taker of the other is of no concern of the military.  I am so not a happy military wife.

    On another note........ Had a visitor from Make-A-Wish come to our house today and drop off our final paper work for our Make-A-Wish Trip.  Ashley of course received more gifts!

The countdown has begun!

Daddy will be home on the 11th in 4 days!

                                   And Ashley's MAKE-A-WISH Trip to 

Disney World in Florida is in 7 days!

And Ashley 7th Birthday is 8 days!

She has come a long way. We where told at 15 months that she would not live past four years and would not likely leave the hospital alive! Ashley is a true miracle!

1 2 3 CRAB

ASHLEY'S GIFTS FROM MAKE-A-WISH

OUR SHIRTS AND BUTTONS

MAKE-A-WISH BARBIE!

MARCH 8, 2013

Off to school they go...

The countdown has begun!

Daddy will be home on the 11th in 3 days!

And Ashley's MAKE-A-WISH Trip to Disney World in Florida is in 6 days!

And Ashley 7th Birthday is 7 days ONE WEEK!

LITTLE MISS TOOK 20 MINUTES IN THE BATHROOM
AND ALMOST MISSED THE BUS!  OH IT IS STARTING
WAY TO EARLY!

MARCH 9, 2013

The countdown has begun!

Daddy will be home on the 11th in 2 days!
And Ashley's MAKE-A-WISH Trip to Disney World in Florida is in 5 days!

And Ashley 7th Birthday is 6 days!

While this is one count down it also brings up another one. As soon as Daddy is here we will have to start the count down of the day he has to return to CA and continue another 2 and and half years living with out Daddy home. :(

MARCH 10, 2013

The countdown has begun!

Daddy will be home on the 11th in 1 days!

And Ashley's MAKE-A-WISH Trip to Disney World in Florida is in 4 days!

And Ashley 7th Birthday is 5 days!

TIME TO GET RID OF THE CRAZY HAIR! HAIRCUTS!

ASHLEY'S TURN FIRST

     My attempt for Ashley to get bangs failed.  She basically just had a trim.  Maybe one day she will have a style.  Have to keep it some what long to be able to pull it up for school but may just have to chop it all off.  But then we would be very limited in our bow wearing!  Not sure what to do.  Any suggestions? 

BEFORE

ALL DONE!

TYLER

     Just short and easy for Tyler.  Nothing fancy.  But at first he did want a mohawk!  Guess we will have to grow it out during the summer!

BEFORE

AFTER

KYLE

     Kyle wants his hair long with bangs.  Good luck with that Kyle.  Short and easy for now.  

BEFORE

AFTER

ALL THREE!

     Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.  The kids are going to school and right after we are going to pick Daddy up from the airport.  The time spent with Daddy and on our trip is going to go quickly and hopefully we can enjoy it.  I just wish it did not have to end and we could be a family that actually lived together.  Well time to lax for the rest of the day.

The long week...and my Sunday will not end!

FEB 24, 2013

     .........Just to continue the sick week for the last day (Sunday) we had Tacos for dinner......now no more sickness allowed in the house or with any person that is part of this family!  The good medicine for Ashley will continue thru out the next week and then we are done!  Onto the next week ........

DINNER TACOS!

FEB 25, 2013

     Surprise it is MONDAY!   And ASHLEY is going back to school.  Loaded up on meds and missing all of last week but I think we are ready set go...........  ------>

FIRST DAY BACK TO SCHOOL.....FOR ASHLEY!

     And we are back to Kyle doing home work with Daddy.  I have turned into that Mommie that Kyle does not really have to listen to and he has turned into the kid that really does not have to pass 5th grade!  Very frustrating!  We are working thru it and hopefully something changes but after being grounded for a full week to his bedroom and still does not have his computer, Ipod, Wii, TV, or even the basic joy of being able to go outside and play (he missed all of the snow) he seems to be coming around.  But as of now I am still on his bad side :(

KYLE DOING HOMEWORK WITH DADDY

FEB 26, 2013

     Tired and grumpy and not wanting to go to school.  The only positive, Ashley was very happy about her outfit.  A new Minnie upcycle dress (new to us but not new)!  We where supposed to get a lot of snow today and we did get a few inches but not as much as what many expected.  School closed early so Ashley and Tyler where able to go outside and make a snowman named Snowy before Ashley had her appointment with her Oral Therapist for feeding therapy!  That was a battle won with Tricare!  Kyle stayed inside and did homework with Daddy yet again.  

FORCING A MORNING SMILE

READY TO GO PLAY IN THE SNOW

NOW HOW DO U CHOSE JUST ONE?

Meet Snowy the Snowman!

FEB 27, 2013

     Ashley may be feeling better but I think it is taking a toll on her attitude!  She better get it in check soon (she will be fine as soon as she is off of the Benadry)!  Notice anything funny in this picture?  Let me know....

ASHLEY HAS HAD BETTER DAYS

FEB 28, 2013

     The funny thing has been fixed in this picture.  It is one thing I am always on my kids about.  Any takers on what it is yet?  Meet Ashley's new friend Teddy.  I am unsure where Teddy came from he just showed up one day and now he goes every where.  I am assuming he is a he I guess I should ask.  This is the last day of February and that works for me.  Other then my husband's birthday, which was uneventful (living in two separate states) not a very good month at all.  Looking forward to a wonderful March.  Jamie (Daddy) will be coming home for a visit (yep only a visit) and we are going to Ashley's Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World in Florida!  Ashley is going to have a tea party/lunch with the princess in Cinderella's castle on her 7th birthday!  We are all excited.  Never been to Disney, never been to Florida, never been on a family vacation!  So good bye February hello March!  And Happy Birthday Tyler and Ashley both in March!

DADDY WANTED SMILES

MARCH 1, 2013

     Again not a great morning for Ashley but she only has to get thru her favorite day of school FUN FRIDAY and then she can LAX at home all weekend and they have MONDAY OFF!  Ashley had her IEP today and all went pretty well.  We are going to try weighted pencils to help her write so I am on a pinterest quest to find a solution to make them.  Other wise her services will continue and their will be communication between Ashley's OT at school and her new OT's for outside feeding therapy, which the school does not provide.  As of now Ashley will still be placed in the special needs classroom next year but still will be placed in a normal second grade classroom for social activities and any subject that may be appropriate.  They do finally agree that Ashley needs an Aid and this is only because the aid in which Ashley has had the past two years is retiring this year and I asked who is replacing her.  They said that they know that they have to hire someone.  Hopefully I do not have to fight that battle at the beginning of the next school year.  It always seems one step forward two steps back.  

NOT A GREAT MORNING FOR ASHLEY

MARCH 3, 2013

      Kids in bed.  Ashley will finish her Amoxicillin tomorrow and she did not get any Benadryl today.  Her attitude is getting slightly better.  I am cleaning the house and still feel like I have a lot to do.  We will see when my head actually hits my pillow.